Laundry finishing machine



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June 1, 1937. 1 DAVID Er AL 2 LAUNDRY FINISHINGMACHINE Filed Feb@ 4,1935 1l Sheets-Sheet 10 bIal m. Y mn m mmm R ma? A Du mm Lum] k A June1, 1937. L. DAVID Er Al.

LAUNDRY FINISHING MACHINE vFiled Feb. 4, 1935 1l Sheets-Sheet 11Petented Jnne 1, 1937 UNITED STATE-s PATENTfoFI-ICE Lyn David andAlexander nesenblatt,

New York, N. Y.

Application February 4, 193s, serial No.4,754

27 claims. '(01.270-62) This invention relates to flat work laundryfinishing machines.

Particularly in large cities, laundries frequent- 1y launder largequantities of articles of substantially the same type and size such asfor example, hand towels, pillow cases, barbers shaving cloths,restaurant napkinsand table cloths and the like, in connection with alinen supply service to oilce buildings, barber shops, restaurants,`doctors, dentists and others. Such service includes the selection anddiscarding of damaged articles, the folding of the articles, the.stacking of the articlesin bundles, and the tying up of such bundles foreconomical handling and distribution.

means for automatically operating upon fiatwork linen of the typeabove-mentioned to nish such fiat-work, including means for selectingand sorting substantially perfect or grade A articles from slightlyimperfect orgrade B articles, discarding articles damaged beyond apredetermined limit, folding the articles, stacking them/into bundles,tyingrup the bundles, and ejecting the tied bundles.

Our invention further contemplates the provision of a machine intendedto receive the fiat work from a mangle, and to automatically finish thework,'the machine including means for sorting and grading the work,folding the work,

stacking the work intol graded bundles, tying the bundles, ejecting thebundled articles, discarding the damaged and unuseable articles, andperforming the operations mentioned at high speed and economically.

The various objects of our invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows, ,and from the drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our new machine, the selecting and foldingmechanism being shown at the left of the iigure and the sorting,stacking and tying mechanism at the right. l

Fig.A 2 is a similar elevation on an enlarged scale of the selectingandfolding portion of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the means for engaging the work as itcomes from'a mangle, and

. for advancing the work into the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the work advancing means.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the suction `means for rst engaging andadvancing the work.

Fig. 'l is a front e^vation of the gripping me`ansork delivered theretoby the for advancing the work-engaging suction head.

.Our invention contemplates the provision of 8 is a substantiallyvertical section of the machine, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a `vertical section of the work advancing rolls for deliveringthe folded article to the work advancing chute.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged front view and partial section of thelower end of the suction arm shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 11 isa partial top plan view of the photoelectric cells and lensesused for the selecting operation. e;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the mechanism actuated by thephoto-electric cells and controlling the selecting and stackingmechanism.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on the line |4-I4 ofFig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram of the various electrical instrumentalities.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of 4the, stacking and counting means andofthe operating mechanism associated therewith.

l Fig. 17 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section and rear view ofthe same, taken on theline IB-IB of Fig. 17.

'A Fig. 19 is a front View of the gear means for raising the stack ofarticles after a predetermined number of articles have been stacked.

Fig. 20 is a side view of themechanism for ty- .ing' the bundle orstack.

swinging the stack into the various tying posi.

tions' thereof.

Fig. 26 is a similar View of the tying platform,

the tying needle and the operating'parts therefor. Fig-27 is a,perspective view of the stack or lbundle of work showing the tyingneedle and the twine gripper in the` positions assumed thereby after thefirst loop has been made around the Fig.'28 is a similar view of thesame, showing l the parts in the positions assumed thereby as ,theIsecond loop is made around the stack or bundle.

Fig. 29 is a vertical section of the stack si. JW-

'ing a portion of the needle, and thestring or twine gripper as well asthe staple for tying the ends of the string or twine together.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the portion of the completely tiedbundle showing the staple 5 for holding the severed ends of the tyingstring.

Fig. 31 i s a perspective view of the post for supporting the presserplate, showing the bayonet lock between the parts thereof.

Fig. 32 is a vertical section of the string or l0 twine gripper..

, For the purpose of clarity and simplicity in the description of whatfollows, the work operated on by the machine hereinbefore referred to asfiat work, will be termed towels, particularly in view of the fact thatarticles such as towels form the greater part of such work.

. In that embodiment of our invention which we have illustrated and areabout to describe in detail, the machine consists of a number ofsubmechanisms for performing various operations. v

In general, the machine begins its operation on the towel delivered bythe last roll of a mangle.

A suction arm'lifts the towel from the mangle roll and transfers it to aconveyor, the suction arm oeing provided with means for preventingoperation of the sorting mechanism unless and until a towel istransferred thereby. Grippers on the conveyor forward the towel along asuitable plate on which light is thrown by suitable illuminating means.If the towel is damaged or defective, a lesser degree of light will bereflected therefrom than from a perfect or nearly perfect towel. Thetowels are sorted by the machine into two graded stacks. The moreperfect towels will be designated as grade A towels and do not have anyspots or defects therein totalling more than about one-half square inchin area. 'I'hose towels having spots or defects greater than one-halfsquare inch in area and totalling up to 40 about one square'inch in areawill be designated as grade B towels. Those having defects totallingover a square inch in area are defective towels and are discarded by themachine.

Means for sorting the towels into grade A and grade B stacks and fordiscarding the damaged towels is controlled by a set of photo-electriccells. These cells operate the stacking mechanism to stack the grade Atowels at one point in the machine and to stack grade B towels atanother point while permitting the damaged towels to pass through themachine into a suitable receptacle therefor.

Prior to the stacking of the towels in graded stacks, each towel isfolded three times.

When the number of towels in the stack, either gradeA or grade B,reaches a predetermined number, the stack is tied into a bundle and thethus tied bundle discharged from the machine.

The sub-mechanisms for performing each of G0 the operationsabove-mentioned will now be described in detail.

Receiving and transfer mechanism Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,the towel 42 65 as it leaves the manglerests on the inclined belt 40(Figs. 1 and 5) passing around the last roll 4I of the mangle, it beingunderstood that our machine is arranged in position to remove said towelfrom the belt 4U for automatic transfer into 70 the machine. Po'wer issupplied to the machine by a suitable motor 43 through Various belts andother driving means on and operated by the motorshaft 44 (Figs. 1 and2). On said shaft is also mounted a suitable rotary suction pump 45 de-75 signed to exhaust air from the suction head 46 carried at the end ofthe transfer arm 4l. Said arm is mounted on the arm shaft 48 forrotation therewith and carries the pipe 49 (Figs. 3 and 5) whichcommunicates at its outer end with the suction head. At its inner end, abent portion of the pipe 49 is inserted through a suitable opening inthe suction casing 50 (Figs. 1, 2 and 10), the opening 5| in the pipebeing normally open to permit the pump 45 to exhaust the air from thepipe 49 and the suction head 46 through the pipe connection 52 whichcommunicates with the casing 50.

At the proper time, however, ythe suction opening 5| is closed by meansof the valve 53 (Fig. 10) which is operated by a suitable toggle.

Said toggle consists of the member 54, pivoted lto the casing 50 as at55, andi'terminating in a flange ,56 having an opening 5l through whichis passed the rod 58.` 'I'he rod 58 is pivoted to the valve 53 at oneend as at 59 and is pivoted to the casing at its other end 60. A spring6| coiled about the rod serves to maintain the rod and the valve 53 towhich it is connected in the particular position into which lthe rod isse't, until moved from said position by the toggle operating means. Saidoperating means comprises the lug 62 projectingfrom the pipe 49, saidlug being suitably shaped to act/,as a cam and to engage one end v63 ofthe member 54 to swing said member. On the rotation of the arm 41 intoits lowermost or substantially horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and5, said lug 62 engages the edge 63, and owing to its properly bevelledshape, by its cam action swings the member 54 about its pivot in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10. Such swinging of themember 54 causes the rod 58 to swing about its pivot in a clockwisedirection and thereby to remove the valve 53 from the opening 5| and topermit exhaustion of the air from the pipe 49 and from the suction head46.

On the transfer movement of the arm 41 into substantially uprightposition, the lug 64 projecting from the pipe 49 and bevelled similarlyto the lug 62 is brought into engagement with the opposite edge 65 ofthe member 54 and serves to swing said member into valve closingposition, thereby to cut off the suction from the suction head and torelease the towel transferred by said head.` The means for swinging thearm 41 will now be described.

'Ihe shaft 66 (Figs. 2 and 3) is rotated by the motor shaft 44 throughsuitable means such as gearing at its lower end not necessary to beshown or described, as for example, any suitable and well-known bevelgearing. At its upper end, the shaft 66 carries the bevel gear 61meshing with the bevel gear 68 on the shaft 69. Said gear 68 isconnected to one part 70 of a suitable clutch, the other cooperatingpart 'H of said clutch being slidably mounted on the shaft 15 alignedwith the shaft 69. The clutch part 'I l is operated by the clutchoperating arm 'I2 carried and operated by the solenoid A (Figs. 3 andl5) said solenoid being energized immediately after the head 46 has comeinto engagement with the towel 42 on the belt 40, and in a manner soonto be described.

On the shaft 'l5 is mounted the gear 13 meshing with the gear segment14, said segment being in turnxed to the shaft 48 and angle slightlyless than 90.

subtending an Consequently, on

the energization of the solenoidA, the continuously rotating sha-ft 66rotates the shaft 69 and y through the clutch 10, 1|, rotates the shaft15 and the gear 13, and thereby rotates the segment 14 to turn the shaft48 and the arm 41 carries thereby through an angle slightly less than 90to carry the towel engaged by the suction head upwardly on to a suitablescanning plate to be later described.

When the suction on the towel is released through the closing of thevalve 63, energization of the solenoid A occurs simultaneously. Thesolenoid when thus energized releases its armature which isconnected toand in turn releases the clutch operating arm 12. Said arm thereby-swings to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 to disengage the-clutch and tofree the shaft 16 from its operative engagement with the shaft 69.

l5 Due to the weight of the arm 41 and the parts carried thereby, said-arm now drops back by gravity to its horizontal position shown in Fig.5, to carry the suction head 48 to a position on to the mandrel roll 4|,to reengage the next towel,

20 and to permit the repetition of the towel advancing operation.

'I'he suction head 46 is open at its bottom, (Fig. 6), at which isarranged the perforated plate 16 resting on the inwardly projectingflange 11 and carrying a pair of contact points 18, the plate beingvertically movable but normally maintained against the ange 11 by thespring 19. A second perforated plate 80 is fixed in the interior of thesuction head in parallel spaced relation to the plate 16, and carriesthe contact point 8| connected by the conductors 82 to the solenoid A.It will therefore be understood that when the plate 16 is in engagementwith the towel, suction in the head 46 carries the towel against theperforated plate 16 to close the perforations in said plate, and permitsthe suction to move said plate olf the flange 11 to carry the contactpoints 16 and 8| into contact. The circuit to the solenoid A is therebyclosed and causes re-engagement and operation of the clutch parts 10 and1| and the rotation of the arm 41 to the dotted line position of Fig. 5,wherein the .towel is carried into position for delivery to the scanningplate 600. When the valve 63 closes the pipe opening 6|, 45 the suctionin the pipe 49 and in the suction head 46 is cut off, thereby permittingthe spring 18 to move the plate 16 down on the flange 11 and to open thecircuit between and to separate the`contact points 18 and 8|. When thesuction is thus 50 cut olf, as hereinbefore explained, the shaft 16ceases its rotation and the arm 41 drops by gravity to the positionshown in Fig. 5, rotating the shaft 48 as it does so in the oppositedirection from its previous rotation and through the segment 24 and thegear 13.0n the shafts 48 and 16 respectively, causes rotation of the'shaft 16 in the direction opposite to that given to' it by the shaft69. i

The alternate rotation of the shaft 16, first in o0 one direction andthen in the other, causes similar movement of the towel forwarding chain86, rst in the towel forwarding direction and then back to its originalor initial position. A pair of such chains 85 are carried at the ends ofthe gripper shaft 86, being each mounted on a pair of suitable sprocketwheels 81. The chain and gripper shaft 86 is operatively connected tothe shaft 15 for rotation therewith but at a higher speed by the trainof gears 88, 89, 90 and 9| (Fig. 3). f Secured, to each of the chains 85in position to have-the leading edge of the towel laid thereon andreleased by the suction head is a stationary jaw 92 of the towel gripper(Figs. 3, 4 and '1). Said jaw is preferably serrated as at 93 andcarries the movable jaw 94'lpivoted thereto as at 96. The movable Jaw isprovided with an extension 99 and with ilat edges as 96 and 91 arrangedangularly relatively to each other and engaged by the spring 96 tomaintain the movable jaw in the position in which it is set, and toassist in the opening and closing movements of the jaws.

Slidably mounted in a stationary part of the machine frame is the slide|00 (Fig. 4) urged outwardly by the spring |0I, and carrying the cam |02of suitable shape to engage the extension 99 and to quickly move saidextension upwardly when the slide-moves inwardly and thereby, assistedby the spring 98, to rotate the movable jaw 84 into towel grippingposition. The slide |00 is interposed in the path of the arm 41 or a lugextending Y therefrom whereby, when said arm reaches the limit of itsupward movement, thel slide |00 is forced inwardly to close the jawsVtogether and to cause the towel to be gripped simultaneously with theclosing of the suction opening 6| by the valve 63. It being understoodthat the shaft 86 is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation ofthe shaft 48, the towel grippers are brought to their most forwardposition at the time that the arm 41 is brought to its most rearward oruppermost position so that transfer of the towel from the suction head46to the grippers may be properly effected.

-As the chains 86 are moved rearwardly of the machine, the grippers drawthe towel rearwardly on to the stationary scanning plate 600. While theplate as shown is inclined downwardly for the purpose of saving space,it may be horizontal if desired or even inclined upwardly. Said plate ispreferably colored black or some dark color along an area of slightlyless width than that of the towel, there being a white longitudinal areaat each edge of theA plate of about 11A inches 'in width to take care ofany slightly narrower towels which may be used in the machine. The areaoutside of the white strip remains black. The purpose of the colorationof the plate 6 00 will be described hereinafter in, connection with thescanning means for determining damaged areas in the towels and forgrading the towels into grade A and grade B stacks. It need merely besaid at this time that the scanning area is preferably limited to aboutiive inches in length. The plate, therefore, is preferably unmutilatedand continuous with the width and length of the scanning area but pastsaid area, the platev is provided with a slot to permit the foldingopera.- tion soon to be described.

When the chains'86 reach their limit of rearward movement, the movablegripper jaw 94 is rotated in vthe proper direction to open the jaws andto release the towel at the same time that the folding mechanism engagesthe towel. Said movable Jaw is opened by means of the stationary cam |03supported by a suitable bracket |04 extending from the stationarybracket |05 (Fig. 8). The cam |03 is shaped similarly to the cam |02 butextends horizontally instead of vertically. To insure gripping of thetowel by the folding mechanism at the same time or just before thegripping Jaws are opened, the stationary jaw 92 carries a bridgingmember |06 which closes the circuit between a pair of suitablystationary spaced contact members |01 in the most rearward position ofthe chains and Just before the cam |03 engages the handle 99 of themovable jaw to open said Jaw. It will be understood that the spacedcontacts |01 are suitably insulated from each other and from the frameof the machine and may be carried by the stationary member such as thebracket |04 (Fig. 8). Suitable conductors lead from the spaced contactmembers |01 to a suitable solenoid B, which solenoid is energized tooperate the folding mechanism as the grippers are opened to release thetowel.

First fold mechanism The towel having been arranged on the plate 500over the longitudinal slot I 08 in said plate, and at the time that itis released by the gripping jaws or just prior thereto, the means foroperating the rst towel folding mechanism is set into action. Thefolding mechanism comprises l5 the vertical blade ||0 (Figs. 2 and 8)provided with a backing or stiffening member I I A pair of similaractuating members engage the surface II| and move the blade downwardlythrough the slot |08 to fold the towel along its longitudinal centerline and to reduce the width thereof in half. The actuating membersbeing similar in construction, a description of one will sufice forboth.

The actuating member consists of a frame I2 engaging the backing memberIII and mounted on posts ||3 passing through the stationary sleeves I|4on the brackets |05. Interposed between a suitable collar II 5 on oneset\ of the posts and the upper ends of the corresponding sleeves ||4are the springs II 6 which urge the posts and consequently urge theblade ||0 toward its uppermost position. A suitable` rod III connectedat its upper end as at ||8 to the post II3, and suitably braced to thelower eiid of the post as by means of the brace II9, is provided with abent end |20 adapted to enter the groove |2| of a suitable cam |22 (Fig.2) whereby rotation of the cam engages the end |20 of the rod and pullsthe post II3 down through the sleeve ||4 against the action of thespring |I6. Similarly, the rod |23 is connected to another post ||3 andis provided with a bent end |24 designed to enter the groove of the cam|25 which is similar to the cam |22. The grooves in the cams |22 and |25are open at both ends so that the respective bent ends |20 and |24 ofthe rods ||1 and |23 may pass through the groove and then be releasedready for the reengagement of said bent ends by the cams on the nextrevolution thereof.

Suitable means are provided for rotating the cams. As illustrated, saidmeans takes the form of an actuating shaft |26 suitably geared to themotor shaft 44 at its lower end and provided with the bevel gear |21 atits upper end. Said gear |21 meshes with the cooperating bevel gear |28xed on the hollow shaft |29. operatively connected to the gear |28 isone relatively xed member |30 of a one revolution clutch. The othermovable member |3| of said clutch is mounted on the one revolution shaftI 32. Said clutch member |3| is engaged by the arm |33 which is in turnsecured to the armature of the solenoid B. It will thus be seen thatwhen the solenoid B is energized,.the clutch members |3| and |30 areengaged and while the shaftl |29 rotates continuously, the shaft |32 isgiven a single revolution, the arm |33 disengaging the clutch after therevolution and when the solenoid B is deenergized. On the shaft |32 arethe bevel gears |34, |35 meshing respectively with the bevel gear |36 onthe shaft |31, and the bevel gear |38 on the shaft |39. On the shaft |31is mounted the cam |25 while on the shaft |39 is 75 mounted the cam 22.

- towel forwarding rollers |40,

It will thus be seen that on the energization of the solenoid B, thecams |22 and |25 are rotated to engage the rod ends |20 and |24respectively and to pull down the blade ||0 to fold the towel lengthwiseand to force the thus folded towel through the slot |08 into engagementwith the 4| (Figs. 2, 8 and 9).

Each of the rollers is mounted on a suitable shaft supported in theframe of the machine, the roller |4I being mounted on the shaft |42(Fig. 2) carrying the sprocket wheel |43 and driven from the motor shaft44 by means of a suitable chain belt |44 passing about the idler pulley|45 which twists the belt to the proper angle.

Said rollers |40 and |4| are spaced apart a suiiicient distance topermit the passage of the folded towel, the surfaces |46 of said rollersbeing preferably made of roughened crepe rubber designed to yield on theinsertion of the blade |I0 therebetween and to suitably grip and forwardthe towel into the first receiving chute |41 (Figs. 2 and 9). 'I'herollers are rotated in unison in opposite directions by means ofsuitable interengaging gear wheels on their respective shafts. Saidchute |41 is hinged at its lower end as on the pivot rod |48 and isprovided with a central slot |49 for the passage of the second foldblade |50. After the folded towel has dropped to the bottom of the chute|41, the chute is rotated into the horizontal position shown by .thedotted lines in Fig. 8. The means for so rotating the chute comprisesthe forked arm |5| (Figs. 2 and 8) pivoted at one end to suitableprojections on the chute as at |52 and at the other end, being providedwith a pin entering the groove |53 of the cam |54. Said groove isprovided withv a circular portion |55 to maintain the chute in itsupright position at the time that the'towel is being forwarded'by therollers |40, I4| into said chute. Part of the remainder of the cam isshaped to rapidly rotate the chute into horizontal position after thetowel has dropped to the bottom, then to maintain the chute inhorizontal position while the second fold is taking place and then toraise the chute rapidly into its upright position.

'I'he means for rotating the cam |54 comprises the gear |56 on the shaft|48', which gear meshes with the intermediate gear |51 supported by thebracket |58. Said intermediate gear in turn meshes with the gear |59 onthe shaft |32 (Figs. 2 and 8).

Second fold mechanism `each of their ends to the chute and at theirouter ends, are braced in pairs by the post brackets |63, |64.

On the swinging of the chute |41 into the dotted line horizontalposition of Fig. 8, said chute engages and lowers the slide |65 mountedin and passing through the sleeve |66 and normally pulled upwardly insaid sleeve by the spring |61. At its upper end, the slide |65 carriesthe springpressed trigger |68 pivoted to the slide as at |69 andnormally held in engagement with the lower end |10 of the pivoted weight1|. As the slide |65 is engaged and moved by the chute |41 on preferablyinto bundles of fifty oi' the same grade the movement of said chuteintoy its horizontal position, the trigger |68 is removed from -the` endof .the weight, thereby'releasing the weight and permitting said weightto drop rapidly about its pivot |12 and to strike the back |80 of theblade |50 and forcing said blade through the slot |49 ofthe chute and tocause the towel to be folded into quarters as well as to forward thethus folded towel in between the forwarding rolll10 ers |13, |14. The,roller |14 is mounted on a suitable shaft provided with a sprocketwheel driven by the chain |15 (Fig. 8) passing about a sprock-` et wheel|18 which is mounted on the shaft |16. On the same shaft is the sprocketwheel |11 driven by the chain, |19 (Fig. 2) from a suitable sprocketwheel on the motor shaft 44. Interengaging gears |80, |8| on the shaftsAfor the rollers |13', |14 cause rotation of said rollers in unison inopposite directions. 'I'he operation and construction of the rollersbeing similar to the rollers |40, |4|, no further description thereof isdeemed necessary. Suffice it to say that the rollers |13, |14 forwardthe towel, which has now been folded into quarters, into thesecond chuteThird fold mechanism Said chute is provided with a central slot |84 forthe passage of the third folding blade |83 to again fold the towel thistime into eighths in the same manner as the folding hereinbeforedescribed but by somewhat different mechanism, which will now bedescribed. The blade I 83 is provided with a back |85 slidably mountedon the posts |86 and pressed outwardly by the springs |81. The innerends of said posts are secured to the chute while the outer ends thereofare supported by the brackets |88.

Pivoted to the back |85 as at |89 is the lever |90 which is also pivotedas at |9| to the frame |92, and which is provided with an arm |93extending toward the shaft |32. Said arm |93 is made of sufficientlength to extend into the path of a rotatable arm |94 mounted on theshaft |31, whereby the arm |93 is engaged by the arm |94 at the propertime to cause oscillation of the lever |90 in the proper direction andthereby to force the blade |83 through the slot |84 and to fold thetowel and forward it between the towel-forwarding rollers |95, |96.'I'he rollers in turn forward the thus folded towel on to the movingconveyor belt |91. One of the rollers |95 is mounted on the shaft |16,which is rotated in the manner hereinbefore described through thesprocket 11 and chain |19, said shaft |16 carrying the gear |98. Theother roller |96 is provided with a gear |99 engaging the gear |98 onthe shaft |16 whereby the rollers are rotated in unison in oppositedirections to effect the forwarding movement of the towel on to the beltSaid belt passes about a suitable pulley mounted coaxially of the gear|99, and serves to advance the folded towel to the sorting and stackingmechanism.

Sorting or selecting mechanism The towel, having been folded intoeighths or other suitable size by the folding mechanism hereinbeforedescribed, the folded towel is now conveyed by the belt |91 into thatpart of ,the machine which stacks the towels into piles of the samegrade, such as grade A and grade B towels, and discards the towels whichare so damaged as to make them unfit for further use. In the stackingmechanism, the towels are separated whereafter the bundle is'tied anddischarged from the machine.

The means for separating or sorting the towels will now be described.

As shown particularly in Figs. 11 and 12, the control device for thesorting means consists preferably of a pair of photo-electric cells,each of which is responsive-to light and becomes operative to energizeother devices when a sufficient amount of light is thrown thereon. Thelight is produced by the lamps200, 20| (Fig. 12) each provided with asuitable reflector 202 to focus the light on a transverse band of thetowel of predetermined width, the illuminated towel areas or bands as203, 204 being preferably directly underneath the means for transmittingthe light to the photo-electric cell. One cell 205 is comparativelyinsensitive while the other cell 200 is comparatively sensitive. Thatis, the cell 205 is responsive only to a considerable amount of light.

Therefore, this cell is adapted to operate the mechanism for selectingtowels having small damages or spots'since such a towel reflects agreater amount of light than the towel having large spots or damagedareas.

The photo-electric cell 206 is affected by slight variations in theamount of light thrown thereon. Therefore, this cell is responsive tosmall defects. In other words, it requires less change in light to aectthe cell 206 than it does to ail'ect the cell 205. Both cells 205 and206 are affected by damages of comparatively large area in the towel butonly the cell 206 is affected by .damages of comparatively small area.I'he cell 206 will therefore be designated hereinafter as the fine cellwhile the cell 205 will be designated as the coarse" cell. 'Ihe lamps200, 20| may be of the long filament type or they may be vapor tubes orCooper Hewitt lamps or any other suitable source of lighting means.

'I'he light thrown on the towel by the lamps is reflected from theundamaged parts of the towel.

lIf the towel is spotted or is torn or has holes therein, the light isnot reflected from the thus damaged areas and thereby causes variationin the amount of light energy accumulated by the photo-electric cells.The light from the towel band 203, which is about one inch in length, is

Vcondensed by a suitable elongated lens 201,- the light being againre-condensed by the smaller lens 208 and focussed or projected on to thecell 206. Similarly, the light reflected from the band 204 is condensedby the elongated lens 209 and is focussed by the smaller lens 2|0 on tothe coarse cell 205.

As shown in the wiring diagram (Fig. 15), conductors lead from each ofthe cells 205, 206 to a suitable amplifier 2| The conductors from thecoarse cell 205 lead from the amplier to the motor C and to the solenoidD (Fig. 13). From the fine cell 206, the conductors lead to anothersolenoid E.

Said motor C and solenoids D and E control the circuit-making andbreaking mechanism leading to a solenoid F (Fig. 16) for operating thestacking mechanism for the grade B towels. 'I'he motor C and solenoids Dand E also control the mechanism for making and breaking the circuit tothe solenoid G which controls the stacking of the grade A towels.

The circuit-making and breaking mechanism will now be described. Saidmechanism is designated generally by the numeral 2|2 (Figs. 13 and 16)and includes a casing 2|3 mounted on a base 2|4 forming part of themachine frame. .The motor C is provided with a motor shaft 2|5 carryingthe pinion 2|6. Said pinion meshes vwith the gear 2|1 loosely mounted onthe shaft 2|3, and is recessed as at 2|8 for.`the reception of the clockspring 223. Asuitable plate as 22| maintains the spring in its recess.The gear 2|1 is provided with a series of vertically spacedcircumferential or annular grooves 222, 223 and 224 loadapted to receivethe ball 225 urged into said groove by a suitable spring 223.

The gear 2|1 further has a sliding connection with the shaft 2|8consisting for example, of the key and slot connection 221. Thecontact-making member 2281s carried by the flange 223 projecting fromthe gear 2|1 and is designed to make contact with either of the bowedspring contact members 233 or 233 carried in spaced relation by thefixed insulated post 23|. Projecting from 2o the flange 228 is the lug232, the gear 2I1 being urged by the clock spring 223 to rotate in theproper direction to carry the lug 232 into engagement with the fixedinsulated post 23|., and thereby normally maintaining the members 223 25and 233 (or 233) out of contact, todeenergize the motor C and thesolenoids D and E.

Means are provided for sluiting the gear 2| 1 along the shaft 2|8` tothe proper height so that on rotation of said gear, the contact member228 may be carried into contact either with the contact member 233 orwith the contact member 233 or with neither of said members. Said meanscomprises ,the solenoid E and its armature 234 normally presseddownwardly toward the gear 2 i1 by the spring 235 and retracted into theposition shown in Fig. 13 by the solenoid E when said solenoid isenergized by the coarse photoelectric cell 235. The spring 235 is ofsufiicient strength to cause the comparatively heavy armature 234 todeliver a blow to the gear 2 I1 and l thereby to shift said geardownwardly into one of the two positions determined by the entrance ofthe spring-pressed ball 225 in4 one of the grooves 223 or 222, it beingunderstood that the gear 2|1 is normally in its highest or initialposition wherein the ball enters the groove 224. In other words, whenthe solenoid E is deenergized, the spring 235 becomes operative to shiftthe gear 2|1 downwardly along the shaft 2|3 and thereby to arrange thecontact member 223 on the gear in position to contact with the lowercontact member 233, or in a position below said contact .member wherebyrotation of the gear will not close any circuit to the solenoids F or G.In

the normal or highest position of the gear 2| 1,

the contact member 228 is'in position to engage the contact member 233from which conductors lead to the solenoid F, thereby operating thestacking mechanism for the stacking of grade A towels.

In the Anext lower position of the gear wherein the ball 225 enters' thegroove 223, the member 228 is arranged at the proper level to engage thecontact member 233 from which conductors lead 65 to the solenoid Gwhereby on rotation of the gear, the circuit is closed to said solenoidG. In the lowest position of the gear wherein the balls 225 enter thegroove 222, the contact member 228 is arranged below both of the contactmembers 233 and 233, and neither of the solenoids F and G are energized,whereby neither of the stacking moves on the belt |91 without beingstacked and is discharged into the receptacle 236 (Fig. 1) for damagedand discarded towels.

mechanisms become operative and the towel leased by the operatingsolenoids therefor, the

gear 2|1 is nevertheless moved along its shaft to its highest position.To retract the hammer 231 to its lowermost position shown in Fig. 13 onthe energization of the solenoid D by the fine cell 236, the armature24| of the solenoid D is provided with a projection 242 secured to theAcable 243 passing over the rollers 244, 245 and 243 and secured to thehammer 231. When the solenoid Dis energized, the armature 24| isretracted to pull the cable and thereby to draw the hammer 231downwardly against the action of the spring 243.

The operation of the means for making and breaking the circuits to thegrading solenoids F and G will now be described. -It being understoodthat there is provided a slight gap between successive towels fed ontothe plate 333, the black part of the plate is exposed to the cells,therefore reilecting to said cells 235 and 233 insufiicient light toenergize the solenoids D and E. The armatures of said solenoids arethereby released, permitting the springs 243 and 235 to operate thehammer 238 and the armature 234 respectively. Since the spring 243 is ofgreater strength than the spring 235, the gear 2| 1 is thereby shiftedby the hammer 231 along the shaft 2|3 to its uppermost position' shownin Fig. 13, wherein the ball 225 enters the groove 224 and the contactmember 223 is lin position to contact with the upper contactmember 233.

Taking now the case where the towel passing beneath the cells 235, 236is substantially perfect, that is, if the spots or damages thereon totalless than about one-half square inch in area, whereby the towel may beclassedv as a grade A towel, then sufficient light reaches both of thecells 235 and 233 for the former to energize the solenoid E and thelatter to energize the motor C and the solenoid D. On the rotation ofthe motor C, the pinion 2|5 is rotated, causing counterclockwiserotation of the vgear 2|1, as viewed in Fig. 14, against the action ofthe clock spring 223 and thereby carrying the contact member 223 aroundtoward the contact post 23|. Since the fine cell 236 has been energized,the solenoid D is also energized. thereby pulling upon the cable 243 andreleasing any pressure upon the gear which might be caused by the hammer231 or spring 243. Similarly, the solenoid E having Men energized by thecoarse cell 235, the armature 234 is retracted against the action of thespring 235 to remove any pressure from the gear 2|1.

'I'he gear now being in its highest position as i indicatedin Fig. 13,andlthe motor C having been energized at the same time through thephoto-electric cells, and the gear 2|1 having been rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, the contact member 228 is brought intocontact with the upper stationary contact member 233, thereby closingthe circuit to the solenoid F. Said solenoid thereupon becomes operativeto throw the clutch 253 (Fig. 16) and thereby operating the mechanismfor lowering the movable stacker plate 243 on to the belt |31 into'thepath 0f the Aband 204, which includes the spot, on to the coarse cell205 to cause energizationv of the solenoid E. The solenoid E thereforeis unable to maintain the armature 234 retracted, thereby releasing saidamature to the action of the spring 235 which projects the amatureagainst the gear wheel 2|1 and moves said wheel downwardly through thedistance between grooves. 'I'he ball 225 thereby enters the groove 223.At the same time, however, the ne cell 206 which operates under a lesseramount of light than the cell 205 receives sufllcient light to energizethe motor C and the solenoid D. The hammer 231 is thereby maintained inits retracted position, permitting the armature 234 to eHect thedownward shifting movement of the gear. The motor C is also operated tocause the member 228 to make contact with the lower contact member 233(the gear 2|1 having been shifted' as above described to the properposition for this purpose),

and thereby to energize the solenoid B and ,tov

throw the one revolution clutch 241 and to interpose the central movableplate 248 into the path of the oncoming towel on the conveyor belt. Thetowel is thereby arranged in the stacking mechanism for the grade Btowels, said mechanism being arranged at the right as shown in Fig. 16,while the duplicate grade A stacking mechanism is arranged at the leftof said gure.

Should there be more than one spot (for example, two spots) in the towelbetween one-half square inch and one square inch in area, to total morethan one square inch, then the light from the scanned band or the towelincluding the spots is insufllcient to cause continued operation of thecell 205 and the operation of said cell is interrupted twice, once foreach spot. The armature 234 is thereby released twice by the solenoid Eand is operated twice by the spring 235 to shift the gear wheel 2|1downwardly twice or through two grooves, that is, to arrange the ball225 in the highest groove 222. TheA contact member 228 is therebyarranged at a level below either the contact members 230 or 233 androtation of the gear wheel cannot close the circuit to either thesolenoid G or the solenoid F. Neither oi.' the plates 248 nor 249 arelowered into the path of the towel and therefore, said towel continuesits movement with the belt |91 until discarded and 1 discharged into thediscard receptacle 235.

Considering now the case where there are spots on the towel over onesquare inch, then insufcient light reachesv both of the cells.205 and206 to maintain them in operation (or to maintain the armature 234 andhammer 231 retracted or to energize either the motor C or the solenoid Dand E), whereby no contact is made between the member 228 and either ofthe members 230 or 233 and neither of the stack plates 248 or 249 islowered, and the towel is discarded into the discard receptacle 236.

As has'been hereinbefore indicated. when the vtowel has been scanned,the black area on the plate 500 is exposed to the cells whereby thesolenoids D and E are deenergizcd as is the motor C, and the spring 240becomes effective to raise the gear 2|1 to its uppermost position, beingstronger than the spring 235, and the parts are positioned ready for therepetition of the operation. it being understood that when the motor Cis inoperative, the clock spring 220 rotates the gear 2|1 in a clockwisedirection to carry the lug 232 against the stationary post 23|.

Stacking mechanism The stacking mechanism for grade A towels isdesignated generally by, the numeral 25| (Fig.

` 16) while the substantially identical mechanism for grade B towels isdesignated by the numeral 252. Thecentral plate 249 o! the grade Astacking device, as has been hereinbefore explained, is first loweredsufficiently by the selecting mechanism to be interposed in the path ofa grade A towel to receive said towel thereon as the preliminary step inthe stacking operation. Said plate is then raised to deposit theselected towel underneath a stack of such towels until a predeterminednumber of towels is arranged in the stack, whereatter the stack is tiedinto a bundle and discharged from the machine.

The stacldng mechanism 25| will now be de' i scribed and the descriptionwill sulce for the substantial identical mechanism 252. 'I'he plate 249is comparatively narrow along its central portion and is provided withtransverse projections 253, 254, 255, 256, 251 symmetrical about thecenter line of the plate and of suiiici'ent width to extend over thebelts |91 and thereby to support a towel throughout the entire width ofthe towel. Assuming now that the plate 249 has been lowered on to th`ebelts |91, the towel is moved by said belts on to said plate. Themechanism later to be described i'or operating the plate then raises theplate 249 with the towel-thereon.

Said plate 249 terminates in a backing member 258 (Figs. 16 and 17)provided with a side lug 259 and with a pair of sleeves 260, 28|. Saidsleeves are slidably mounted on the respective stationary posts 262 and2 83. A series of hinged side plates 284, 265, 268 and 281 are providedto hold the stack of towels while the plate 249 reciprocatesto receiveand lift the towel from the belt |91. The hinge plates 264 and 285 areeach mounted for swinging movement on the rod 268, there being a springat the hinge for each of the plates tending to urge the plates intotheir respective horizontal positions. The pivot rod 268 is mounted insuitable bearings carried by the plates 289, 210, which bearings are inturn secured to the posts 262 and 21| respectively. The sleeve 260 isprovided with a longitudinal slot to permit said sleeve to pass theplate 269 during the reciprocation of the sleeve and of the plate f Itwill be seen that as the plate 249 is raisedinto towel-stackingposition, the towel thereon `which extends across the projections 253,254,

,. plates and underneath whatever towels have been previously arrangedon said plates. The center plate 249 having deposited the towel at thebottom of the stack is now ready to receive another towel and to repeatthe operation.

The means for operating the center plate 249 will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive, the backing member 258 of saidplate is provided-with a lug 288 under which'is arranged the end 28| ofthe plate-operating lever 282, the lever being pivoted as at 283 to theframe part 2|4 of the machine (Fig. 16) It will be seen that when theend 28| of the lever is moved upwardly, the plate 249 together with thetowel thereon are also raised upwardly, the sleeves v268 and 26| slidingon the posts 262 and 263. In order to swing the lever 282, a rod as 284is pivoted to the lever intermediate its ends as at 285 (Fig. 18), thelower end 286' of said-rod being provided with a cam follower insertedinto the groove 281 of the grooved plate cam 288'. Said cam is mountedon the shaft 264 on which the one revolution clutches 241 and 258 aremounted. For rotating said shaft, a suitable bevel gear 285 is securedto the end of the shaft and meshes with a similar gear 286 on the rollershaft 281. (See also Fig. 1.)

lThe towel conveyor belt |91 passes about the pulley 288 on theshaft289, which shaft also carries the gear wheel 298 meshing with the gearwheel 29| on the shaft 281 whereby movement of the belt causes rotationof the shaft 281 and consequently causes rotation of the shaft 284. i

It will be seen that when the clutch 258 on the shaft 284 is thrown intooperation by the energization of the solenoid F, the cam 288' isrotated, reciprocating the rod 284 and thereby swinging the lever 282,and by the engagement of the lever end 28| with the lug 288, raises theplate 249 the required distance to move the towel thereon past the hingeplates 264, 265, 266, 261,

nthereby to deposit the towel at the bottom of the stack of selectedtowels of the same grade. The cam groove 281' is so designed as to havea substantial rest' period or dwell as at 292 whereby sufficient time isallowed between the energization of the solenoid F through the operationof the selected mechanism. and the raising of the plate 249, to permitthe folding of the towel after it passes the photoelectric cells and topermit the folded towel to be conveyed on to the plate 249.

At this point, it might be well to state that the towel is conveyed pastthe photo-electric cells at such speed and in about the time that itwould take the gear 2|1 (Fig. 13) to be rotated through one revolutionby the motor C so that suflcient time is allowed for the completescanning of the towel before the solenoids F or G are energized. Itthereby becomes possible to complete the scanning `of the towel asuiiicient. time before the selected towel is stacked, to permit thefolding operations hereinbefore described, particularly in view of theconsiderable dwell or restvprovided on the cam 288'.

The cam track or groove 281 is further so designed that the plate 249after depositing its towel at the bottom of the stack, drops down to aninitial position at a point sufficiently above the conveyor belt |91 topermit the passage therepast of those folded towels which are to bestacked in the grade B stack or to be discarded. The cam track isfurther so designed that immediately after operation of the clutch 268,the lever end 28| is swung downwardly, permitting the plate 249 to dropon to the conveyor belt |91 to receive the oncoming towel, whereafterthe plate is raised past the hinge plates, and then finally lowered to aposition above the belt I 91,

thus completing the cycle of operations on each revolution of the cam288'.

Means are further provided for raising the entire stack of selectedtowels oif the hinge plates 284, 286, 266 and 261 up on to a similar setof hinge plates preparatory to tying the stack into a. bundle, whenfifty towels of the same grade have been stacked. Said means includes aclutch operative after fifty revolutions of the one revolution clutch258 to raise the plate 249 a suiiiclent distance past the hinge platesto deposit the entire stack of fifty towels on the upper set of hingeplates.

Referring again to Figs. 16 to 19, the pinion 293 on the shaft 284engages the planetary gears 294 revolubly carried by the internal gear296 and meshing therewith. Said internal gear 296 is loose on the shaft284 and carries the pin 298 pivoted as at 384' and pressed by the spring291 toward its horizontal position. The gears 298, 294 and 293 are sodesigned that on one revolution of the shaft 284, the gear 295 isrotated through one-fiftieth of a revolution, thereby carrying the pin296 through one-fiftieth of a complete turn.

0n the shaft 284 is fixed the clutch member 298 provided with aninternal conical recess. Loosely mounted on the shaft 284 is the controlgear 299 which carries the conical clutch member 388 adapted to enterthe recess of the clutch member 298 to operatively engage the gear 299with the shaft 284. Said clutch members 298 and 388 are urged intoengagement by the spring 38|. 'Ihe pin 296, however, by its engagementwith the surface of the gear 299 prevents the spring 38| from effectingthe operative engagement of the clutch members until said pin 296 hasbeen swung out of the way of the gear 299. 'I'he pin is so operative onevery fifty turns of the internal gear 295.

To so swing the pin 296, a track or groove 382 (Fig. 19) is made inthat-face of the gear 299 nearest the pin. Said groove communicates witha bevelled recessed portion 383 on the face of the gear 299, the recessat its right edge being provided with a. cam surface 384 leading towardthe track 382. It will be seen that on each rotation of the shaft 284,the internal gear 295 rotates one-fiftieth of a turn and the pin 298being kept at its horizontal position engages the face of the controlgear 299 along an annular surface radially outside of the track 382.After forty-nine towels have been stacked, the pin 298 approaches thecam edge 384. On the ftieth revolution of the shaft 284, and on the lastfiftieth turn of the internal gear 295, the pin 296 engages the cam edge384 and is swung about its pivot and against the action of the spring291 to cause the end of the pin to enter the track or groove 382 and tobe removed from the transverse path of bodily movement of the gear 299along the shaft 284. The resistance of the pin to the movement of thegear 299 under the inuence of' the spring 38| being thus eliminated, thespring 38| moves the gear 299 toward the leftl as viewed in Fig. 16 tocause engagement of the clutch members 388 and 298 and thereby to permitthe shaft 284 to rotate the control gear 299 at comparatively highspeed. 'I'he control gear 299 is operatlvely connected to the plate 249through the gears 385, 386, there being a sprocket wheel 381 mounted onthe same shaft as the gear 386.

At its lower end, the chain 308 passes about the sprocket wheel 381, andat its 'upper end passes about the sprocket wheel 389 (Fig. 1), the

latter sprocket wheel 309 being supported by the post 263. Mounted onthe post 263'is the collar 309', which is secured to the chain and whichis arranged vunderneath the sleeve 26|, whereby movement of the chainraises the collar and therethrough exerts upward. pressure on the sleeve26| to carry the plate 249 upwardly along the posts 26| and 262 past thetying platform soon to be described.

The tying platform consists preferably of four hinge plates similar tothe plates 264 to 261 and operating in a similar manner (Fig. 26). Forexample, the hinge plate 3 I 0 is pivotally mounted by means of asuitable spring hinge on the hinge rod 3||, which is in turn supportedby a suitable bearing projecting from the sleeve 3|2 slidably mounted onthe post 262. The hinge plate 3|3 is similarly mounted on the post 26|.AThe hinge plate 3|4, however, is similarly mounted on the arm 3|5carried by the frame of the machine while the similar hinge plate 3|6 ismounted on the arm 3| 1. It will be understood that the plates 3|0, 3|3,3|4 and 3|6 are spaced apart both longitudinally and transversely asuicient distance to permit the passage of the plate 249 upwardlytherepast to deposit the stack of towels thereon and downwardlytherepast to free itself of said bundle in the same manner as said plate249 deposits the towels on the hinge plates 264 to 261.

Said hinge plates 3|0, 3|3, 3|4 and 3|6 constitute the tying platform onwhich the stack of towels rest while being tied into a bundle. It willbe understood that the hinge plate supporting portion of the arm 3|5 isin substantial alignment with the rear post 21| and that the similar arm3|1 is in similar alignment with the front post 21|, but that there is aspace left between the arms 3| 5, 3|1 and the upper ends of said posts21| for a purpose which will later become obvious.

It will be understood that after the plate 249 has been raised by thechain 308 into position to deposit the stack of towels on the upperhinge plates or tying platform, the plate 249 is released and drops downby gravity until it again contacts with the lever 282 and remains in itsinitial position somewhat above the conveyor belt |91, ready forstacking the next fifty towels and to repeat the operation abovedescribed, it being understood that the pin 296 by its engagement withthe control gear 299 permits the plate 249 to drop freely by maintainingthe clutch members 298 and 300 out of engagement and against the actionof the spring 30|. The gear 299 and the intermediate gears 305, 306cannot operate the chain 308 when the clutch members 298 andy 300 aredisengaged and the gear 299 is also freed cf the shaft 284 to enable itto rotate freely when thc plate 249 is released and drops. The pin 296on the return movement of the control gear 299 moves out of the track302 and climbs the bevel or inclined portion 303 of the gear face to aposition adjacent the cam edge 304 ready to repeat the operation ofcontrolling the lifting of the stack to the tying platform when fiftytowels have accumulated on the lower hinge plates.

Bundle tying mechanism The means for tying the stack into a bundle willnow be described.

An upper clamp plate 320 (Figs. 1, 20, 21, 22, and 31) is provided forthe purpose of clamping the stack of towels against the hinge platesconstituting the tying platform when the stack is-to be manipulatedduring the tying operation to tiethe stack into a bundle. The upperclamp plate isin its uppermost position clear of the stack when thelplate 249 moves up to deposit the stack on the tying platform. Theclamp plate is then moved downwardly on to the uppermost face of thestack to clamp the stack to the tying platform, whereafter lthe stackmay be` manipulated as a unit together with the upper clampplate and thetying platform. Said upper plate 320, as shown by the dotted lines ofFig. 25, extends somewhat less than half-way across the upper face ofthe stack but extends throughout the entire thickness of the stack. Theplate is supported by a pair of intersecting brackets 32|, 322 (Figs.20, 21, 22, 25). At the juncture of said brackets is provided a sleeve323 secured to the upright post 324. Said post passes loosely throughthe fixed horizontal portion 325 of the machine frame and carries thetwo-arm bracket 326 fixed thereto near the upper end of the post. 'I'hebracket 326 in turn supports suitable gearing for the purpose later tobe described, and carries the lug 321 engaged by the cam 329 for raisingand lowering the upper clamp plate 320, the post 324, the bracket 326and the parts carried thereby.

Said cam 328 is mounted on the shaft 329 supported by a suitable bracket330 carried by the iframe part 325, the cam extending through a suitableslot in said frame part. At one end of the shaft 329 is the bevel gear33| meshing with the bevel gear 332 at one end of the cross shaft 333.At the other end of said shaft 333 is the bevel gear 334 engaging thebevel gear 335 on on .the upright shaft 336 (Fig. 20). 'The bevel gear331 at the lower end of the shaft 336. engages the bevel gear 338 whichin turn meshes with the bevel gear 339 on the tying mechanism shaft 340.A shaft 3|8 aligned with the shaft 340 (Fig. 26) is continuously rotatedthrough a suitable belt or chain 34| passing around a pulley or sprocketon the shaft 3|8 and about another suitable pulley on the shaft 342.Refer- .ring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the shaft 342 carries apulley 343 for operating the endless belt 344 which discharges the tiedbundle from the machine in a manner to be later described. .Said belt344 also passes about the pulley 345 on the shaft 346 which is rotatedin any suitable manner as by means of the belt or chain 341 passingabout a suitable sprocket .wheelon the shaft 346 and about anothersprocket wheel on the shaft 348 which carries the pulley for the lowerconveyor belt |91.

The shaft 3|8 carries one member 3|9 (Fig. 26) of a one-revolutionclutch. the other member of which is slidably arranged on the tyingmechanism shaft 340. When the clutch members are engaged, it will beunderstood that the shaft 340 will make one revolution and thereby acycle of operations will be performed by the tying mechanism, said cycleincluding the raising and lowering of the upper clamping plate 320. Theclutch member on the shaft 340 is operated through the medium of thesolenoid H (Figs. 15 and 26) thus to cause operation of the tying andbundling mechanism.

Said solenoid H is energized by the closing of a circuit thereto as theplate 249 starts its downward movement to deposit the stack on the tyingplatform. Toward this end, (Fig. 1), a suitable spring switch 358 of theplunger type is carried by the arm 359 depending from the frame member325, being interposed. in the path

